presence

American  

[prez-uhns] / ˈprɛz əns /

noun

1. the state or fact of being present, as with others or in a place.

   Antonyms:

   absence

2. attendance or company.

   Your presence is requested.

3. immediate vicinity; proximity.

   in the presence of witnesses.

   Synonyms:

   neighborhood

4. the military or economic power of a country as reflected abroad by the stationing of its troops, sale of its goods, etc..

   the American military presence in Europe;

   the Japanese presence in the U.S. consumer market.

5. Chiefly British. the immediate personal vicinity of a great personage giving audience or reception.

   summoned to her presence.

6. the ability to project a sense of ease, poise, or self-assurance, especially the quality or manner of a person's bearing before an audience.

   The speaker had a good deal of stage presence.

   Synonyms:

   mien, carriage

7. personal appearance or bearing, especially of a dignified or imposing kind.

   a man of fine presence.

8. a person, especially of noteworthy appearance or compelling personality.

   He is a real presence, even at a private party.

9. a divine or supernatural spirit felt to be present.

   He felt a presence with him in the room.

10. British Obsolete. presence chamber.

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presence British  

/ ˈprɛzəns /

noun

1. the state or fact of being present

2. the immediate proximity of a person or thing

3. personal appearance or bearing, esp of a dignified nature

4. an imposing or dignified personality

5. an invisible spirit felt to be nearby

6. electronics a recording control that boosts mid-range frequencies

7. (of a recording) a quality that gives the impression that the listener is in the presence of the original source of the sound

8. obsolete assembly or company

9. obsolete short for presence chamber

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Other Word Forms

• nonpresence noun

Etymology

Origin of presence

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin praesentia; present ¹, -ence

Example Sentences

The Danish military created a permanent dog sled presence in 1950.

From Barron's

While observing a repeating FRB roughly 2.5 billion light-years from Earth, researchers detected a unique signal that pointed to the presence of a nearby companion star.

From Science Daily

Jay Taylor touches a whistle he wears around his neck to signal the presence of federal agents as he makes a pledge.

From Barron's

There are concerns over the U.S. military presence near Iran, NAB’s Taylor Nugent says in commentary.

From The Wall Street Journal

Both crews knew about the presence of the other aircraft but could not easily see and avoid each other because of poor radio communications, insufficient collision-avoidance technology and the mental strain from multitasking, investigators said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• behavior
• personality